The Australian's one sided view on the skills of federal MPs

Times are tough for political writers when parliament is not sitting. They have to invent their own drivel rather than being able to report on the drivel of members. And in The Australian this morning there was a classic example.


In a desperate search to fill the hold on page one The Oz came up with:
TREASURER ACCUSES ALP FRONTBENCH OF LACKING REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
A shortage of “real-world” experience on Labor’s frontbench is fuelling concerns over a negative approach to small business and raising doubts about the party’s claim to represent the interests of its traditional “aspirational” bluecollar base.
Analysis by The Australian shows that only three Labor frontbenchers have listed experience working in small business, prompting an attack from Scott Morrison, who said Bill Shorten would treat the sector like a “giant ATM” if he won office at the next election.
And on the story went in similar terms without any attempt to compare the Labor team with that of the Coalition government.
Now readers of the Owl might remember the story last week How career politicians now dominate our Parliament.
Career politicians are now dominating political life. Back in 1966 when I came to Canberra trade union officials, political staffers, party officials and former MPs (state and federal) were less than a quarter of MHRs and Senators. At the start of this year they made up 54% of the total.
In my analysis I didn't notice much of a difference between the Coalition and Labor apart from Labor having more member with a trade union background and the Coalition having more lawyers.
When it comes to the front benchers of both sides the differences are slight.

The Turnbull Cabinet and previous employment:

Simon Birmingham Political staffer, lobbyist
Matthew Canavan Public servant, political staffer
Darren Chester Political staffer
Steven Ciobo Political staffer
Mathias Cormann Business manager, political staffer
Mitch Fifield Political staffer
Fiona Nash Farmer, political staffer
Kelly O'Dwyer Political staffer
Marise Payne Political staffer, lobbyist
Christopher Pyne Political staffer, solicitor
Arthur Sinodinos AO Public servant, political staffer, banker
Julie Bishop Lawyer
George Brandis QC Barrister
MichaeliaCash Solicitor
Christian Porter Lawyer, university lecturer, state MP
Malcolm Turnbull Barrister, merchant banker
Peter Dutton Businessman/policeman
Greg Hunt Business consultant/political staffer
Barnaby Joyce Accountant, former Senator
Scott Morrison Manager/party official
Nigel Scullion fisherman, businessman
Josh Frydenberg Businessman/political staffer

The Labor front bench and previous employment:

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Anthony Albanese Political staffer
Chris Bowen Political staffer
Kim Carr Teacher, political staffer
Kate Ellis Political staffer
Katy Gallagher Community worker, union official, Territory MP
Tanya Plibersek Public servant, political staffer
Bill Shorten Trade union official
Penny Wong Union official, political staffer, lawyer
Tony Burke Trade union official
Mark Butler Trade union official
Jacinta Collins Trade union official
Don Farrell Shop assistant, trade union official
Richard Marles Solicitor, trade union official
Brendan O'Connor Trade union official
Michelle Rowland Lawyer
Mark Dreyfus Barrister
Shayne Neumann Lawyer
Jim Chalmers Public servant, political staffer
Jason Clare Businessman
Joel Fitzgibbon Businessman
Catherine King Social worker/consultant
Jenny Macklin Public servant


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